【Hong Kong, October 28, 2026】Sotheby's Hong Kong Autumn Sale 2026, which concluded yesterday, achieved a remarkable total of HK$2.58 billion (approximately US$330 million), once again demonstrating the strong vitality of the high-end art and jewelry market in Asia. Among them, a highly anticipated natural Burmese imperial green jadeite bead necklace fetched an astonishing HK$350 million (approximately US$45 million), becoming the highest-selling lot of this autumn sale and setting a new auction record for jadeite necklaces in the past five years.
This autumn sale presented over 500 rare pieces of jewelry, watches, and artworks. The overall sell-through rate reached 88.5%, significantly exceeding market expectations. The jewelry segment performed particularly well, with a sell-through rate of 92% and a total turnover of HK$1.25 billion, a 15% increase compared to the same period last year. High-quality natural jadeite and colored gemstones remained the focus of collectors' pursuit.
The leading lot, the “Jade Dewdrop” natural Burmese imperial green jadeite bead necklace, comprises 36 exquisite jadeite beads ranging from 15.8 mm to 17.5 mm in diameter. Its color is rich and uniform, the texture is delicate and warm, and the luster is subtle yet profound. The necklace attracted global top collectors during the preview and was ultimately acquired by an anonymous Asian collector via telephone bid after multiple rounds of intense bidding. Its hammer price of HK$350 million, approximately 17% to 40% higher than its pre-sale estimate (HK$250 million to HK$300 million), fully reflects the market's high recognition of the rarity and collectible value of top-grade jadeite.
Ms. Lisa Wang, Chairman of Sotheby's Asia Jewelry Department, stated after the auction: “The success of this autumn sale, especially the record-breaking sale of the 'Jade Dewdrop' jadeite necklace, once again confirms the unique position and continuously growing value of top natural jadeite in the international jewelry market. Asian collectors' appreciation and purchasing power for rare, high-quality jewelry are increasing, which provides us with solid confidence for our future market strategy.”
Dr. Li Ming, a market analyst, pointed out: “In recent years, global economic uncertainty has increased, but the high-end art and jewelry market has shown surprising resilience, especially the Asian market. Top-grade jadeite, as a treasure of Eastern culture, its rarity, potential for value preservation and appreciation, and cultural connotations make it an ideal choice for hedging against inflation and wealth inheritance. The strong performance of this Sotheby's autumn sale indicates that the prices of high-quality jadeite and colored gemstones will maintain a steady upward trend in the coming years, especially for large-carat treasures with historical provenance or unique designs.”
In addition, in this autumn sale, an 8.88-carat Colombian emerald ring sold for HK$85 million, and a 10.08-carat D flawless Type IIa diamond ring sold for HK$120 million, both significantly exceeding their pre-sale estimates. These data further confirm the strong demand for rare gemstones. Sotheby's stated that it will continue to cultivate the Asian market and introduce more world-class rare lots to meet the growing demand for collections.